Kelly Frazer

Kelly Frazer is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine. She leads a highly productive research program focused on genomics and genetics, with particular expertise in human genome analysis, stem cell genomics, and translational research. Her work bridges basic science with clinical applications, aiming to understand the genetic basis of human diseases through large-scale genomic approaches.

Dr. Frazer's research interests span multiple areas of genomic medicine, with a particular focus on understanding how genetic variations influence disease susceptibility and progression. Her work leverages advanced genomic technologies including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) mapping, single-cell genomic approaches, and multi-omic integration. She has made significant contributions to understanding the genetic architecture of complex traits related to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, retinal degeneration, and other conditions, often using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models to investigate disease mechanisms.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward increasingly sophisticated genomic analyses that integrate multiple data types to pinpoint causal variants and understand their functional consequences across different tissues and developmental stages. Her work spans from basic genomic methodology development to direct clinical applications, with particular emphasis on translating genomic findings into biological insights about disease pathogenesis. She frequently employs population-based approaches to understand how genetic variation contributes to phenotypic diversity in human populations.

Dr. Frazer maintains an extensive research program with numerous active NIH-funded projects, including the 'Genetic & Social Determinants of Health: Center for Admixture Science and Technology' and 'Unraveling the molecular pathology of retinal degeneration through single cell genomics.' She is a key contributor to several major research consortia including the iPSCORE Consortium and the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative, reflecting her collaborative approach to addressing complex biomedical questions.